Sound reproducing means



Dec. 10, 1940.

Filed Aug. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AMPLIFIER Dec. 10, 1940. s;QUISLING SOUND REPRODUCING MEANS Filed Aug. 17. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly toan instrument in which recorded tones or musical numbers are selectively produced by manipulation of a keyboard 5 or push button controlsystem.

Heretofore instruments of this type have been quite complicated, and oneof the objects of this invention is to simplify the structure and at thesame time produce a more satisfactory machine.

Another object of this invention is to produce instruments havingelectrical operated mechanisms for causing/ the recorded vibration of asound track to be transmitted directly mechanically through aphonographic record disk to a microphone and then amplified.

Machines or instruments of this type have heretofore all depended on alarge number of diaphragms or a large number of individual pick-updevices, whereas in my invention the sound recording tracks on aphonographic plate are transmitted directly, from the plate itselfacting as the diaphragm or sound conducting means for a plurality ofsound tracks, to the microphone or other amplifying means. Thiseliminates expensive apparatus which can easily get out of order.

In. all prior phonographic pickup machines the records rotate and theneedle or other friction activated pointed means operating in a soundtrack remain stationary and for that reason any flaw in the needle orlike means, or in the way it is connected, is transmitted to thediaphragm and causes unwanted extraneous sounds. This possibility iseliminated in my invention where the record acting as its own diaphragmor vibration conducting means' is held firmly, and only the impactfriction vibration of the needle or like meansis recorded, thus giving amuch.

the voice, comet, flute, organ, saxophone, violin,

cello, clarinet, etc. or any combination thereof.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a greatrange of tones may be accommodated in a relatively small space, therebypermitting the construction of a compact machine.

Another object of my phonographic reproducing means is to provide meansfor reproducing a relatively large number of selections from a singlerecord, each selection having a sound track of the same type nowemployed on phonographic disk records-only such a record should bepreferably of a larger size and the sound track so arranged that thedisk need rotate less rapidlyjust a few revolutions being necessary fora complete selection. In this manner a great number of selection mightbe played, if desired, without changing records. This would be valuablein the construction of various coin musical phonographs such as thosethat are now used in dance halls, ice-cream parlors, etc.

All one would have to do would be to depress a desired key or pushbutton to automaticallyplay any desired selection without changingrecords as in present-day phonographic reproducing instruments.

With these and other objects in view, which 1 will appear as thedescription proceeds, my in-.' vention resides in the novel arrangementand combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview of one form 'of: musical instrumentconstructed in accordance with the present invention, with thereproducing unit shown partly in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the reproducing unit taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through thereproducing unit; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a double reproducing unit, theunits being oppositely disposed to a common microphone.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. .1 shows diagrammatically theentire layout of one -possible' form that my invention may take. A.keyboard I is arranged to control a series of solenoids 2 forselectively moving any one of a series of needles 3 into and out ofengagement with its respective sound track on a phonograph record 4.Vibrations produced by the needle: travelling on the undulating track ofthe record is mechanically transmitted to a microphone 5 which is incircuit with an amplifier 5 and a loudspeaker I.

Thus, when a key of the keyboard i is pressed vidual pickup diaphragmsfor each sound track record having the tones of a different instrumentor combination of instruments, a voice or chorus of voices, may be puton the machine, or a rec- 0rd having a number of different selectionsthereon may also be used if desired. The lower 'end the usual procedureof having a rotating record \.\pf the cone is closed by a diaphragm 32screwed and a stationary pickup needle has been reversed. The needles 3and their controlling solenoids 2 are carried by a disk 8 mounted on ashaft 9 of an electric motor I0. The casing of the motor In is rigidlysecured in a frame II which may be used to hold the mechanism in asuitable cabinet, not shown. As the solenoids 2 are carried by therotating disk 3 and are actuated by movement of the keys of thestationary keyboard I, sliding contacts must be employed to bring thecurrent to the solenoids. Secured to the periphery of the disk 8 torotate therewith is an insulated cylindrical member 12 having gatheringrings 13 spaced along its outer surface, each of the rings having aspring pressed brush 14 in sliding contact insulated bracket 16 securedto the frame 11.

Electrical current tooperate the machine is brought from a source ofpower through the wire l1 to a master switch l8. Wire 19 tapped to wirel1 connects to the motor I0, and wire 20 connects the'motor to thereturn line 2|. Thus, whenever the switch I8 is closed, the motor willoperate to rotate the disk 8 and the needles carried thereby. A wire 22joined to the line 11 carries current to one side of a switch 23,actuated by a key on the keyboard 1. Each key is operatively connectedto a switch 23 and when a.

key is pressed its respective switch is closed. The opposite side of theswitch is connected to the brush holder by means of the wire 24. Currentfrom the brush is picked up by a gathering ring l3 connected to asolenoid 2 which solenoid is grounded to the disk 8. Shaft 9 carryingthe disk 8 has an insulated core 25 connected to the return line 2| inorder to complete the circuit. The needles 3 have the upper portion oftheir shank enlarged to form a sliding armature 26 for the solenoids .2,and when a key on the keyboard I is pressed closing its respectiveswitch, current flows through the line energizing a solenoid and drawingdown its armature thereby pressing the needle firmly against its soundtrack on the rec- 50 ord'4. Between the shoulder on the needle and 'arecess 43 formed in the disk 3 is placed a. spring 44 surrounding theneedle 3 to lift the needle from the sound track on the record when akey is released and the solenoid deenergiz ed. 5 The sound tracks on therecord 4 may be made in the form of closed circles or concentric rings.If in the form of closed circles, each circle.may carry the recordedtone of a single note in the chromatic scale produced by any. particularinw strument. If in concentric rings as on standard v To accomplishthis, the vibratory chamber. or-

cone 21 has a flanged annular head 28 provided 'm'with an'annular seat29 for the record. A plurality of sliding lugs 30 are-spaced about theupper flange of the annulus 23 and held in adjusted position by wingnuts 3|. By loosening the. wing nuts 31 and sliding back-the lugs 30,the

record may be lifted from-its seat and another or otherwise secured tothe cone. The center of this diaphragm is secured to the diaphragm 33 ofr a microphone 5.

The microphone 5 and the vibratory cone 21 are held in a frame 34hingedly connected to the main frame ll asat 35. This allows thevibratory chamber to be rotated from beneath the needles in order tochange the record. To insure perfect alignment of the record withrespect to the needles, a snap ball catch 36 is positioned on the frame34 on the opposite side from the hinges and a companion keeper 31 issecured to the main frame H.

The upper portion of the frame 34 is provided with a ring seat 33 havingan annular resilient cushion 38 therein which carries the vibratorychamber 21.

In operation, pressing a key on the keyboard I closes a switch 23 whichenergizes a solenoid 2, drawing down a needle 3 into firm engagementwith a sound track on the record. As the needle is held firmly againstthe sound track on the record, the undulating track will cause therecord and the vibratory chamber to which it is fixed to vibrate at thefrequency of thetone recorded on the sound ,track. The resilient cushion39 allows the entire vibratory chamber to vibrate freely. Thesevibrations are transmitted by the diaphragm 32 to the microphone 5, fromwhich the vibrations are transmitted to the amplifier ii where the tonesare stepped upto any desired volume. These tones are then emitted by thespeaker 1. v

Only so much of a machine has been shown and described as is necessaryto disclose an operative structure. In the drawings only a few gatheringrings and solenoids have been shown, but it is obvious that a greatnumber of solenoids can be distributed about the disk-"8 at difierentradial distances from the center. In this way records having aconsiderable number of sound tracks can be used with the same number ofsolenoids and needles placed in the rotating dis for each track.

In Fig. 5 is shown diagrammatically a machine having two reproductionunits 40 and 4| oppositely disposed at the sides of a microphone 42.With this construction a greater number'of tones may be used on recordsof two different instruments or combination of instruments or evenvoices may be reproduced together.

While my invention has been described particularly for use as a musicalinstrument, using a piano keyboard, it is quite obvious that myinvention also has great application in the phonograph fleld. Forexample; on a single large rec- 0rd may be reproduced many pieces, anyone of which may be selected and played as often as desired by merelypushing a push button control.

This has application in thecoin-operated phonographs now in vogue. Thusa series of selections may be placed on a single large record and theneed of changing records is obviated all one need do is depress theproper key for any and as many selectionssas desired.

The term needle" as employed in the specification and claims is definedas meaning to include all like means used to vibrate along the undulatedtrack of a sound reproducing record.

The term phonograph as used in this specification and claims is definedbroadly as synonymous with sound record reproducing means.

While my invention has been particularly described with reference to oneembodiment thereof it is quite obvious that various changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of my invention as described andclaimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an activating means for causing a 'stationary sound reproducingplate having undulated sound tracks thereon to vibrate, a rotatable disccarrying at least onesolenoid with a stylus operable as a slidingarmature, an insulated cylindrical member also mounted on said rotatabledisc, said cylindrical member having gathering rings placed around theperiphery of said cylinder, said gathering rings having spring pressedbrushes in sliding contact therewith, said brushes adapted to beselectively electrically energized to conduct electric. impulses to saidrings and said rings being wired to conduct said impulses to saidsolenoids to control the position of said stylus acting as armaturestherein.

2. In an activating means for setting a stationary reproducing platehaving undulated sound tracks thereon in vibration, at least oneneedle-like member adapted to operate as a sliding" armature of asolenoid, at least one such solenoid and needle-like member mounted on arotatable disc, an insulated cylindrical member also mounted on saidrotatable disc, gathering rings mounted on the outer surface of saidinsulated cylinder, and spring pressed brushes in sliding contact withsaid gathering rings.

3. In an activating means for'setting a sta-.

tionary reproducing plate having undulated sound tracks thereon invibration, at least one needle-like member adapted to operate as asliding armature of a solenoid, at least one such solenoid andneedle-like member mounted on a rotatable disc, an insulated cylindricalmember also mounted'on said rotatable disc, gathering rings mounted onthe outer surface of said insulated cylinder, and spring ,pressedbrushes in sliding contact with said gathering rings, and a keyboardadapted to selectively electrically energize and convey electricimpulses through said brushes to said gathering rings to said solenoidsand magnetically position said needle-like members to cause them tocontact or withdraw from the undulated tracks of said sound reproducingplate when said disc is rotated.

4. A rotatable disc with an insulated cylinder mounted thereon, saidinsulated cylinder having gathering rings mounted around the peripherythereof and spring pressed brushes in contact with said rings for beingselectively energized, solenoids mounted on said disc, said solenoidscarrying at least one needle-like member acting as an armature, theposition of which can be varied by selectively energizing electrically,one position being such that said needle-like member will contact theundulated track of a sound reproducing plate.

' SVERRE QUISLING.

